Station for store-service apparatus.



PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

APPLIQATIOII FILED JULY 3, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l N0 MODEL.

MIN

mm f 6 MNN 6 PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w. L'. CHURCHILL. STATION 3cm STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLIQATION FILED JULY 3, 1902- PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

W. L. CHURCHILL. I STATION FOR STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1902.

, 4 BEETS-SHEET a. 1

N0 MODEL.

No. 726,815. PATENTED APR. 28, 1903. I

- W. 'L. CHURCHILL.

STATION FOR STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1902.

N0 MOD-EL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM L. CHURCHILL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC SERVICE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STATION FOR STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 726,815, dated April 28, 1903.

Application filed July 3, 1902. Serial No, 114,196. (No model.)

To otZZ whom it may concern: the line 11 ll of Fig. 4 looking in the direc- Beitknown thatLWILLIAM L. CHURCHILL, tion of the arrow, and Fig. 12 is a plan of the a citizen of the United States of America, rejunction of the switch With the terminal track siding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and when the switch is in the position shown in State of Illinois, have invented certain new Fig. 4.

andusefulImprovementsinStationsforStore- Referring to the drawings, A is the main Service Apparatus, of which the following is receiving-track, having below it a cable B, a specification. moving in the direction of the arrow. A is My invention relates to certain new and the sending-track. It is provided with a caro useful improvements in stations for storeble B, moving in the opposite direction from service apparatus; and its object is to prothe cable B. The track'A is oifset or stagvide a station for use in connection with an gercd with relation to the track A, and both v entire system ofstore-serviceapparatus which are supported from the inside in order to ac- I have invented, the general features of which com mod-ate cash-carriers having downwardly- 15 are shown in application filed March 26, 1902, projecting hooks upon their sides, which emandallottedserialnnmberl00,029. Thecash brace and extend inwardly underneath the carriers in use with this system of apparatus rails of the tracks. -Above the track A at may be those shown in either of my applica-' points where stations are located is a termitions on cash-carriers filed March 26, 1902, nal track C, supported upon a bracket D.

20 and allotted serial numbers 100,026, 100,027, The track C swingsin a loop from the bracket and 100,028. The station described in this D downward and slightly to one side and specification is that commonly called the again through the bracket D, where it is immiddle station as distinguished from the mediately under the track A, and after concashiers station and the end station or station tinuing in this direction for some slight dis- 25 farthestremoved from the cashiers station. tance the rails end, permitting the carrier My invention consists in certain novel feato be removed from them. The curves of tures ofconstruction, which are clearlyshown the track C are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and in the accompanying drawings and described 2. It is not material whether 'the track C in this specification. runs in this particular manner,.but may be 30 In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevaled away from the main track in any other tion of the entire station. Fig. 2 isasection suitable manner to bring the terminal track in the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspecwithin easy reach of the salesman. Abracket tive of one end of the terminal track and its E supports upon a horizontal pivot or shaft supporting-bracket. Figs. 4 and 5 are sec- 6 two arms'e, which bear upon their end a 35 tions in the line A 4 of Figs. 6 and 7, Fig. 4 switch-track F. A pail-of springs 6 Fig. 11, showing the switching mechanism in its norbear upon the arms 6' and tend to force the mal position and Fig. 5 showing it in positrack Fto the position showuinFig. 5. When tion to deflect a cash-carrier from the main the arms 8 and the track F are in their norreceiving-track to the terminal track. Fig. mal positionthat is, the position shown in 0 6 is a top plan of the parts above theline 6 6 Fig. 4-the rear ends of the switch-track F of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a plan of the parts below meet the ends of the terminal track'C just at said line, showing the vertical member of the the bracket D, and the front ends are raised brackets in horizontal section. Fig. 8 is a sufficiently to permit the free passage of carplan of the junction of the switch and the riers beneath it. The rails of the switch- 5 main receiving-track when the switch is in track F are preferably made of flat material, 5 the position shown in-Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is aside as is clearly shown inthe drawings. The elevation of the same, showing the bracket bracket D has at the point of attachment of in section, the line of section being indicated the rails of the track 0 two sockets d to reat 9-9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section in the ceive the ends of the switch-track F, there- 50 line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Fig. '11 is a section in by making a tight connection between said switch-track F and the terminal track (3. The receiving-track A has a small gap a, and when the switch-track F is swung downward-that is, when it is in the position shown in Fig. 5the end of the switch-track F covers this gap and comes in contact with one end of the track A. At the point where the switch-rails F strike the track A are posts a cam-surface.

or rests h, which also form stops for the switch-track in its deflected position. The ends of the rails of the switch-track F are cut away, as shown in Fig. 8, to permit a tight joint. The gap in the rails of the track A is bridged by two small yoke-shaped rails rt, which extend around the gap on the inside. Inasmuch as the box of the cash-carrier merely slides upon the rails with its bottom in contact therewith, it is immaterial whether the rails are placed near together or far apart-that is, within the limits of the hooks of the cash-carriers. The result of this is that when the switch-track F is in its upper position and it is desired that the cashcarrier pass over the gap A instead of being deflected it will merely slide by the gap on these yoke-shaped rails a. When, however, the track F is down-that is, in the position shown in Fig. 5the cash-carriers will be deflected by this track and pass up upon the switch-track, the hooks, which project downward from the side thereof passing through the gap a and permitting the carrier to rise on the switch-track without any difficulty. Assuming now that the switch is in the position shown in Fig. 5 and a carrier comes to it, it will rise, as previously mentioned, upon the switch-track F, drawing the cable B with it. The cable will of course exert a considerable downward tension upon the carrier, and consequently upon the switch track. When the carrier passes the supporting-arms a, the weight of the carrier and the pull of the cable will instantly draw' the switch to the position shown in Fig. 4, bringing the opposite end of the track F into the sockets (Z of the terminal track and permitting the carrier to run oif upon this terminal track. The tilting of the switch-track F from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 4 is furthered by a pair of guide-rails G, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, which would instantly force the track to the desired position independently of the pull of the cable. The rails G have another function, which will now be described. It will be noted in Fig. 6 that these guide rails or tracks converge at g, forming This cam-surface is so arranged that it presses upon-the latch of the cable'gripping mechanism of the cash-carrier and, releases this mechanism from the cable, thereby permitting the cable to fall back to its normal position. When the cable is released, the carrier runs on of its own momentum along the track 0, swings around in the loop of said track, and stops somewhere between said loop and the end of the track 0. This is the operation of the switching mechanism. Itremainsnowonlytodescribethemeans by which the switch-track F is moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 from its normal position. (ShowninFigAe) Thisisaccomplished automatically by the carriers themselves. It is obvious that in systems of this class where carriers intended for several different stations are run upon one track some automatic selecting system must be used. The device on the carrier by which this is accomplished consists in a pair of projecting lugs on each box, these lugs being arranged at diiferent heights, depending upon the station to which they are intended to run. The term lugs is used very broadly in this connection, several variations in the form of the projecting members being used, lugs,washers, and rollers having all been used.

The station-selecting apparatus will now be described. A bracket H is supported by the track A at the gap at, and this bracket supports a pair of levers H by means of pivotal pins 7L, said levers having cam surfaces 72/ upon their lower sides. These cam-surfaces are adapted to engage the projecting lugs 0 upon the carriers, one of which is shown at O. The levers H are connected by links '5 to two bell-crank levers I, pivotally supported upon a bracket 1', which is connected to and supported by the track A. The links 2' are provided with a number of holes 7 which per mit the levers H to be adjustable with respect to the bell-crank levers in order to make the height of the levers correspond with the height of the projecting lugs upon the carriers. It is obvious that if a carrier having lugs low down upon it passes along the track A the levers H will not be afiected by the cams unless they are connected withthe lower ends of the links '5. It will be seen then that all that it is necessary to do in order to make the levers H selectively operative is to make their height from the track slightly lessthan the height of the lugs upon the carrier. Assuming now that the carrier reaches the levers and has lugs at the proper height to operate them, the lovers will be raised, push upon the links, and rotate the bell-crank levers I, so as to move their lower ends to the left. To the arms e,which support the switchtrack F, is rigidly connected an arm e by means of the shaft 0, and from the extremity of this arm extends a link J. Asimilar link J extends from the bracket E to the extremity of the link J. These two links form a toggle-lever which when operated can move the extremity of the arm 6 and thereby rotate the arms a and the switch-track F. The pivot of the toggle-lever is connected to a block j, and the lower ends of the two bellcrank levers I are connected by a rod 1?, upon which is a block i The block j and the block i are connected by a suitable couplingrod K.

The operation of the entire device will now be apparent. When the levers H are raised, as heretofore explained, the bell-crank lever is rotated from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5 and the coupling-rod K is drawnto the left, thereby drawing the toggle-lever from the position shown in Fig.

4 to that shown in Fig. 5, thus pullingdown the arm e and rotating the arms 6 and the track F to the position shown in Fig. 5. The carrier then runs up upon the track F, and

when it passes the center of this track the track swings back into the position shown inv Fig. 4, as heretofore explained. The center of the toggle-lever, formed of the links J J, swings past a line extending through the pivot-point of these links and locks the track firmly in place. The guide-rails G thenrelease the cable, permitting the carrier to run on the terminal track 0, as heretofore explained. A spring is, Fig. 7, pulling upon the block t carries the center of the toggle past the pivotal points and insures the parts being looked, as above set forth. A set-screw 7 threaded in the stop or rest E, limits the movement of the toggle J J in the direction which it swings when looking.

Two small blocks of leather L or some similar material are let into the stops 71, of the bracket H in such position that when the switch-track F swings down the ends ot' the rails of said switching-track will strike these leather blocks and prevent undue noise. For the same purpose a strip of leather L is placed in the top of the bracket H. This strip prevents any noise due to the striking of the track against the bracket when it flies back to its normal position.

Irealize that considerable variations can combination with a receiving-track, a carrier thereon, anda terminal track above said first track, of a switch-track adapted alternately to form a continuation of that portion of said receivingtrack extending toward the cashiers station and said terminal track, substan;

tially as described.

2. In a device ofthe class described, the

combination with a receiving-track, a carrier thereon and a terminal track mounted above said receiving-track, of a switch-track adapted alternately to form a continuation of that portion of said receiving-track extending toward the cashiers station and said terminal track, means for bringing said switch-track into the position wherein it is a continuation,

of said receiving-track and means for bringing said switch-track into the position wherein itisa continuation of said terminal track, substantially as described. V

3. In a. device of the class described, the

combination with a receiving-track, a carrier thereon and a terminal track mounted above said receiving-track,of a switch-track adapted alternately to form a continuation of said receiving-track and said terminal track, of

means operated by said carrier when on said receiving track to swing said switch-track I into the position wherein it is a continuation mitits opposite ends to be alternately brought into contact with said receiving-track and said terminal track, substantially as described. V V

5. .In a device of the class described, the combination with a receiving-track, a carrier thereon, and a terminal track above said receiving-track, of a suitably-pivoted supportlng member, a switch-track supported there- .80 receiving-track and suitably pivoted to perby and adapted to be alternately brought into position to deflect carriers from said receiv-f ing-track toitself and then to be moved to.

discharge them upon the terminal track, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a receiving-track, a carrier inoving thereon, and a terminal track above said receiving-track, of a switch-track above i said receiving-track and movable with respect thereto, means for bringing one end of said.

switch-track into position to deflect said car rier.from said receiving-track, means for moving said switch-track after said carrier has passed upon it so as todischarge said carrier upon said terminal track, and means for locking said switch-track in said second position, substantially as described. 7,

of a suitable cam operated by saidcarrier, a

switch-track operated bysaid cam todeflect said carrier from said receiving-track, and

suitable means for moving said switch-track after said carrier has passedupon it 'to bring its ends into contact with said terminal track,-

substantially as described...

together to form a toggle,and means actuated by a cash carrier to operate saidtoggie whereby said switch, may be moved in one. i

direction and shallbe lockedin itsnormal position, substantially as described.

combination with a suitably-pivoted lever, a

cam-surface thereonadapted to be, actuated,

bya cash-carrier, of a secOnd'leVercQnnectcd i 1130 .9. vIn a device of theolass described,.the.

to said first lever, a movable switch-track and means of connection between said second lever and said switch-track, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a receiving-track, of a movable switch-track adapted to be brought into contact with the same, and suitable elastic pads adapted to support the ends of said switch-track when brought into contact with said receiving'track, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a receiving-track having a gap in its length, to receive a suitable switchtrack, a suitable ofiset track parallel to said receiving-track and adapted to carry a carrier past said gap, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a suitable receiving-track having a gap in its length to receive a suitable switch, of suitable yoke-tracks connected to said receiving-track on opposite sides of said gap, and spanning said gap, substantially as described.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a receiving-track,and a carrier thereon, of a terminal track above said receiving-track, a movable switch-track adapted to deflect a carrier from said receivingtrack and a suitable guide-rail above said switch-track adapted to turn said switch-track and deflect said carrier therefrom to said terminal track, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 21st day of June, A. D.

WILLIAM L. CHURCHILL. Witnesses:

ERNEST STEINBOCK, CHAS. O. SHERVEY. 

